SPD education politicians from the five eastern German states are urging the federal government to secure kindergarten financing beyond 2026. Matthias Hey, the Thuringian SPD spokesperson, warned that cutting the funds could trigger a “structural collapse the East has never experienced”.
The urgency stems from a sharp decline in the child population in East Germany, a trend that could lead to the closure of many childcare facilities. At the same time, the maintenance of quality standards-such as staffing ratios and qualification requirements-would be at risk.
In a joint paper, the “Kita Ost” working group requests that the federal allocations for personnel and qualifications, as set out in the Kindergarten Quality Act, continue at the same level after 2027. For Thuringia, this would amount to roughly 39 million euros per year.
The politicians point out that eastern kindergartens operate under different conditions than those in the west. They have longer opening hours, fewer days closed, and higher care-to-child ratios for infants under three. The demand document was submitted to Federal Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU).
The SPD group is made up of spokespersons from Brandenburg, Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony‑Anhalt, and Thuringia.